FSU baseball coach Link Jarrett expects key pitcher to return vs. No. 6 Duke

Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat

As No. 10 Florida State baseball (32-8, 11-7) returns to North Carolina to face No. 6-ranked Duke (29-12, 13-8), head coach Link Jarrett received positive news.

On Thursday, while speaking to the media, Jarrett announced that he expects right-handed pitcher Ben Barrett to return this weekend against the Blue Devils.

Barrett has been sidelined since March 2.

"We have to be smart in how we use him," Jarrett told the media.

Florida State baseball's Ben Barrett (33) celebrates after hitting a home run.
Florida State baseball's Ben Barrett (33) celebrates after hitting a home run.

Barrett has only played in 9.2 innings and struck out eight batters in the three games he played. Barrett also has a 1.86 ERA.

Jarrett also said that Cam Leiter and Conner Whittaker are continuing to trend in the right direction after missing multiple weeks. Jamie Arnold is expected to start on Friday. Arnold is coming off a 12-strikeout outing last week against Wake Forest. Carson Dorsey will also be in the starting rotation this weekend. Dorsey threw a season-high 11 strikeouts in six innings.

"Dorsey answered for us last week, and I think he has settled into that starting role, which is probably what he's more accustomed to," Jarrett said. "But you know, it does create a revolving door in the bullpen of guys that are out there a lot, and that's okay."

The Seminoles are coming off a dominating victory against North Florida on Wednesday at Dick Howser Stadium, where they scored 10 consecutive runs, including a grand slam from Marcos Dinges and a solo home run by James Tibbs. The batters will put to the test on Friday when they face Duke's ace pitcher, Jonathan Santucci. Santucci has 77 strikeouts, which is third in the ACC, and is 5-0 on the mound. Jarrett talks about preparing for the left-handed pitcher who can throw either a 90 MPH fastball or switch it up with a slider.

"He kind of adds in some tracks," Jarrett said. "Some of these are curveballs. Some are sliders is he really thrown to different pitches, probably some of the sliders it seems like he adds and subtracts the changeup to the righties is in play. It's just elite stuff."

How can I watch FSU baseball vs. Duke on TV, streaming?

  • Friday, April 26: 6 p.m. on ACCNX (streaming only)

  • Saturday, April 27: 4 p.m. on ACC Network

  • Sunday, April 28: 1 p.m. on ACCNX (streaming only)

  • Streaming: WatchESPN and the ESPN app (TV provider subscription needed), fuboTV (7-day free trial), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial)

More: Florida attorney general files lawsuit against the ACC, demands media rights contracts

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU baseball could get pitcher Ben Barrett back vs. Duke

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